In a spirit of gratitude, more than 200 Center for Tomorrow students from across Hawaii reflected on what the greatest lesson they learned in 2020 was, despite the challenges. Here are some excerpts from what some high school students saw as silver linings amid a turbulent year.
“Cherish those around you and be grateful for what you have. … From not being able to have family gatherings to no sports this year, a lot of the things I came to enjoy were gone just like that … COVID may have done some damage in my life, but it made me stronger and built my relationships with my loved ones.”
Morgan Joy Igaya
Waimea High School
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“In 2020 … I lost myself so much, and let outside forces tear me down, I simply forgot who I was and slowly began making idols out of things that were not for my highest good. I realized and told myself, ‘Why would I make something that is outside of me my happiness?’ I began realizing, through my continuous growth in faith, I needed to take care of myself … and not let people tell me what I can and cannot do.”
Davie “Pono” Bailey
Kapolei High School
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“I realized how little people decide to take action and step up to become leaders. As we are faced with political, economic, social and health care problems within society, it is clear we need leaders now more than ever. … It’s the little things that we can start doing to help build that confidence within ourselves to step up, create change, and embrace the leader within ourselves to overcome society’s most concerning issues.”
Trisha Mae Valenzuela
Waipahu High School
“I conquered my fears for boogie- boarding because I was so scared to go out in the ocean. But since my friends were there it would be fun because if we mess something up then we can laugh together.”
Isaiah Fernandez-Lastimosa
Lanai High and Elementary School
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“Throughout the first quarter, I slowly spiraled down until I reached my breaking point. I used to never tell my parents about my problems, but this time I finally did … There’s something healing about listening to your parents tell you about how they’ll always be there to support you. … It’s hard to be grateful for things all of us take for granted, but this is the time to finally think about the things we are truly privileged for.”
Tatiana Rillera
Roosevelt High School
“The importance of having good character while we go through these unprecedented times because it determines our reaction to certain events as well as our willingness to help others.”
Katie Bodnar
James Campbell High School
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“The greatest lesson I’ve learned in 2020 is self-actualization. … I took that opportunity to look really deep within myself, and figured out that the finger I pointed was really meant to be pointed back at myself, and I realized that to fix a lot of problems, I must start with myself.”
Ezekiel Sarmiento-Labiano
Hilo High School
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“Holding on to hope can do more than it seems. … I thought I could handle online school, but things just got really hectic. I often found myself stressing over the workload and my grades for the year more so than usual due to the difficulties brought on by online school. Often I found myself in a hole of sorts … I started to think I was never going to escape, but I knew I should have hope. Hope that things will get better and everything can work itself out. While nothing is resolved, things are indeed better, and hope helped me stay sane.”
Yu Ying Yu
McKinley High School
“Raise Your Hand,” a monthly column featuring Hawaii’s youth and their perspectives, appears in the Insight section on the first Sunday of each month. It is facili-tated by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders. More at CTLhawaii.org
